The NSA is the permanent repository for the Government of Nova Scotia. They have two sites. The first is the NSA website, and the second is dedicated to vital statistics.
The NSA website has online databases on both sites. Among these are vital statistics, marriage bonds, land petitions, and poll taxes to name a few. Concerning the vital statistics database, this is probably the one most people with nineteenth and twentieth century roots will want to explore: www.novascotiagenealogy.com On this database is an index and scanned images of the following: Births (1864-77, 1908-10; delayed registration 1830-1910) which includes 255,956 records; Marriages (1763-1864 Bonds; Registrations 1864-1935) for 222,395 marriages; Deaths (1864-77, 1908-1960; City of Halifax 1890-1908) for a total of 427,890 deaths.
A fascinating part of the website is the “Routes to Your Roots” which has a discussion of the many ethnic groups who made Nova Scotia their home, including the Irish. The Irish discussion states that most the Irish came in the mid-1700s or from 1815-45, rather than during the Potato Famine. Much of the earlier settlement came from counties Antrim, Donegal and Tyrone; while much of the later settlement came out of Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny and Tipperary.
This is a quality website for both Canadians and Americans. Regardless of where your Irish ancestors eventually settled, don’t be surprised if there is a Nova Scotia connection.
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